It's a game of inches in the New Jersey presidential race as Arizona Sen. John McCain gets 29
percent to former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's 26 percent among likely Republican
presidential primary voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Former
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has 14 percent, with 9 percent each for former Arkansas Gov.
Mike Huckabee and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, who dropped out yesterday.

This is the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll's first survey in this
election cycle of New Jersey's likely voters, a more select group than the wider range of registered
voters surveyed in prior polls.

"With the momentum all in Sen. McCain's direction, New Jersey Republicans appear to be
switching from the hero of 9/11 to the hero of Vietnam," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director
of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Mayor Giuliani is fighting for his political life in
New Jersey and Sen. McCain could deny him victory in one of the Mayor's must win states.

"Although Sen. Obama has picked up some strength in New Jersey, Sen. Clinton appears to
be maintaining the sizable lead she needs for a Super Tuesday string of victories in her Northeast
strongholds," Richards added.

"Mayor Giuliani is on the receiving end of a one-two punch this week, as this New Jersey
poll comes one day after a Quinnipiac University New York State poll found Giuliani and McCain
tied at 30 percent each among likely Republican voters," Richards added.

A total of 56 percent of Giuliani's Republican backers say they are "not too likely" or "not
likely at all" to change their minds, compared to 43 percent of McCain supporters.

Among Democrats, 74 percent of Clinton supporters and 66 percent of Obama backers say
they are not likely to change their minds.

"Democratic voters, especially Sen. Clinton's supporters, tend to be more committed to
their candidates than Republicans," Richards said.

From January 15 - 22, Quinnipiac University surveyed 398 New Jersey likely Republican
primary voters with a margin of error of +/- 4.9 percent, and 464 likely Democratic primary voters
with a margin of error of +/- 4.6 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and
nationwide as a public service and for research.
For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x271.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.

1. (If registered Democrat)If the 2008 Democratic primary for President were
being held today, and the candidates were Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Mike
Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, and Barack Obama, for whom would you vote?
(If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Clinton, Edwards, Gravel,
Kucinich, or Obama? This table includes "Leaners".

2.(If registered Republican) If the 2008 Republican primary for President were
being held today and the candidates were Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan
Hunter, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, and Fred Thompson, for whom would
you vote? (If undecided q2) As of today, do you lean more toward Giuliani,
Huckabee, Hunter, McCain, Paul, Romney, or Thompson? This table includes "Leaners".